What is push polling and why is it controversial?

• A. A poll disguised as political persuasion designed to influence opinions, often with leading questions; controversial because it's deceptive.
• B. A well-designed survey that informs voters.
• C. A poll that pushes respondents to answer quickly.
• D. A method for obtaining random samples via push-button survey.

Answer: (A)

Push polling is a tactic in which what looks like a public opinion poll is actually used to persuade voters. It disguises itself as a survey and uses leading or loaded questions designed to push people toward a particular view or to smear an opponent. This is why it’s controversial: it aims to influence rather than genuinely measure opinions, it often relies on deception and unscientific wording, and it can misinform voters while eroding trust in polling research. By contrast, legitimate polls seek to neutrally assess opinions and inform voters using careful, transparent methods. The other descriptions don’t fit push polling: a well-designed survey that informs voters is about measurement, not manipulation; pushing for quick answers describes speed, not manipulation; and a method for obtaining random samples via a push-button survey concerns technology or sampling, not persuasive messaging.